Views in brief

“Workaholics” or forced to work?

IF YOU think you need a break, you're probably right. A report by the Center for Economic and Policy Research last year showed that the U.S. is the only advanced country in the world where workers aren't guaranteed paid vacation or holidays.

The rest of the world's richest countries provide for between five and 13 paid holidays a year. Italy guarantees a minimum of four weeks of paid vacation plus 13 paid holidays a year. German workers get at least 24 paid days off and 10 paid holidays. To review: the U.S. guarantees zero paid vacation days and zero paid holidays.

Without regulations forcing companies to give their employees paid days off, they usually don't. As a result, only one-quarter of U.S. workers get paid vacations.

There's an idea out there that Americans are just a bunch of "workaholics." But if workers had some promise that they could get a day off without fear of reprisals and without losing money, let's just see how that theory holds up.
Teresa Kimbrough, Indianapolis, Ind.

Don't let the CNA off the hook

YOUR ARTICLE ("Roots of the crisis in the SEIU") implicitly sides with the California Nurses Association (CNA) by situating the roots of the conflict between the CNA and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) in the lack of democracy within SEIU.

Lack of democracy inside SEIU must be opposed. However, the CNA should not be let off the hook for its anti-democratic actions in Ohio. Siding with the CNA against SEIU as the "lesser evil" misses the point. This interunion rivalry is undermining democratic forces in both unions who are accused of being "on the other side."

Right or wrong, and regardless of their intentions, no union official has the right to impose policy on rank-and-file workers without their consent. This is just as true for the CNA as it is for SEIU. The only principled position is to not back either union, but to take sides on the issues (union democracy, industrial vs. craft unions, labor-management collaboration, etc.) as they relate to both unions.

Backing the CNA or SEIU blocks rank-and-file members of both unions from building on-the-ground unity, based on common class concerns.
Susan Rosenthal, from the Internet

Reverend Wright is right

I THINK your article "How Reverend Wright was wronged" is absolutely brilliant in pointing out the gross double standards in the media and American politics. Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor is excellent in showing how there is no controversy or condemnation of white pundits when they spew bigotry on the air, but when an articulate Black leaders challenges ideas with clear and crafted arguments, the media freak out.

Despite all the backlash that has been unleashed towards Wright, I find it very comforting to find that many people I know think that the pastor is not crazy. Some people have said that "Wright is right."

Even though the media has a very strong influence on peoples' ideas, some are not fooled by this controversy. In fact, I think a growing number of people see that Wright's critiques of racism in our society and U.S. foreign policy are accurate.
Alessandro Tinonga, Santa Cruz, Calif.

Racist working-class whites

IF THE notion that there are very large numbers of white working-class voters who are racist is a myth ("The myth of the reactionary working class"), how do you account for the poll numbers in West Virginia and Kentucky?

Clinton's campaign has had a strongly racist element to it, and it is so appealing in those overwhelmingly white and relatively poor states that she is up by 30-40 points over Obama in the polls, even though those primaries are coming after the race has been for all practical purposes decided in Obama's favor.
Jeff Melton, from the Internet

Why is BPA still on the market?

WOW. I work for a law firm here in Seattle, and we just filed two class action lawsuits in federal court on this issue ("A hidden danger for infants"). An initial lawsuit was filed in court in Los Angeles last year--and the bottles are still on the market.

Canada, Israel and now the U.S. have issued warnings on the dangers of BPA--and still the bottles are on the market. When it comes to your child's health and well-being, you just can't trust capitalism.
Lonnie Lopez, Seattle